Signaling-target.



N0. 708,l89. Patented Sept. 2, I902.

a. A. Wm. SIGNALING TARGET.

(Aliplictflon filed Kay 23, 1901.)

(No Model.)

7 A RNEY to enter.

UNITED STATES PATENT @EEICE.

GEORGE A. WVIRT, 'OF FUGIT TO WNSHIP, INDIANA.

SIGNALING-TARGET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 708,189, datedSeptember 2, 1902.

Application filed May 23, 1901.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. WIRT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fugit township, in the county of Decatur and State ofIndiana, have invented certain new and useful ImprovementsinSignaling-Targets, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my said invention is to pro'-. vide a simple, efficient,and inexpensive tar-' get for transmitting signals, by the use of whichsignals may be given by simply turning that side of the targetindicating the desired message toward the point of observation, Where itwill be held until its position is purposely changed, as will behereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof andon which similar reference characters indicate similar parts, Figure 1is a perspective View of a mailbox suitable for use in what is known asthe rural delivery system provided with a target embodying my saidinvention, and thus illustrating one very advantageous use ofsuch atarget; Fig. 2, a top or plan view thereof; Fig. 3, a side elevation ofthe target on a differently-constructed box; and Fig. 4:, a fragmentaryside elevation of a portion of such a box provided with such a targetand showing the form of the keeper or detent by which it is held inplace when adjusted.

While this target is shown in connection with a mail-box for use withwhich it has been especially designed, it is, as will be readilyunderstood, capable. of use in many situations, and I desire, therefore,to be understood as claiming it for any use to which it is applicable.

The target structure preferably consists of several Wings W, (four areshown) secured to a stem S, which in turn is mounted in a bearing B, andis provided with a head It on its lower end below the bearing. The wingsor blades may be of any suitable form. I have shown them semicircular,so that two of them, one upon each side of the stem, when seen from alittle distance give the appearance of a circular disk. -Any othershape,however, may be employed that is desired. The keeper K is placedalongside-the target, and into this the lower edge of one of the wingsis adapted This keeper is'pre'ferably V-shaped Serial. No. 61,560. (-Nomodel.)

in form, (as best shown in Fig. 4,) so that less care is required toplace the target therein.

The wings or sides of the target may be made distinguishable from eachother in any desired manner. A common way is to paint those surfaceswhich face in a given direction a distinct color; Each set of facesbeing distinguishably painted or otherwise distinctly formed or marked,the target is capable of transmitting as many diEerent signals as thereare sets of faces, and these distinctive colorings or markings may ofcourse be arranged in any relation that is desired.

To set the target, all that is necessary is to raise the same, revolveit until the surface desired facesin the proper direction, and drop it,when it will be held to that position by the engagement of one of thewings with the keeper. The head It will prevent it from being separatedfrom its bearing. In use in rural mail-delivery work let it be assumed,for example, that the display of a red surface toward the street is tobe considered the signal to thepostman that there is mail-matter in thebox for'which he-should call and that the display of the same-coloredsurface toward the house is to indicate to the patron that mail-matterhas been delivered to the box for him. In such a case the other surfacesmay be painted white or any, other distinctly-contrasting color, andthus either the postman or the patron can know at once upon looking atthe box whether or not it is necessary to visit it. Other uses and otherdistinctive colorings or markings. will readily occur to themanufacturer or user and can be employed at will, according to taste orrequirements.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a mail-box, of a signaling-targetthereforcomprising a socket or bearing, a stem bearing the signaling-target onits upper end mounted to extend through and slide and turn in saidbearing, being provided with a head below said bearing for limiting themovement of'said stem, and a detent with which said target is adapted toengage and be thereby held in adjusted position, substantially as setforth.

2. The combination, in a target, of a suitable Vertically arrangedbearing, a stem adapted to be inserted and revolve in said alongside ofsaid stem and adapted to receive bearingand provided Withahead on thelower an edge of one of the wings, substantially as end thereof, wingssecured to the upper end and for the purposes set forth.

of said stem, and a keeper having a notch In witness whereof I havehereunto set my 15 therein into which an edge of one of the wings handand seal, at Indianapolis, Indiana, this may enter, said stem being, ofsufficient length 18th day of May, A. D. 1901.

to permit a longitudinal movement in the w ,1

bearing, substantially as set forth. GEORGE WIRL 3. The combination, ina target, of a bear- J Witnesses:

ing, a stem mounted therein, wings secured CHESTER BRADFORD,

on said stem, and a V-shaped keeper secured L. H. COLVIN.

